More money for police

Administrator

Oct 1|06:45

Published on 29 November 1999

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice were in Houston yesterday to notify Mayor Annise Parker that $10 million in grant funding is headed here to help hire additional police officers. The grant will cover the salary and benefits for 50 new officers over the next three years.

In making the announcement, Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli said to Mayor Parker, “your hard work in the city of Houston hasn’t gone unnoticed. And that’s why we are here today— to recognize the work of your police department and help them do even more to protect the people who live and work in this thriving city.”

The funding is provided by DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and is being awarded under the COPS Hiring Program.

“[This] announcement recognizes that the Houston Police Department (HPD) is a leader in community policing,” said Mayor Parker. “We will spend these dollars wisely, continuing the strict fiscal stewardship that has kept Houston from having to follow other major cities in furloughing or laying off police during these tough economic times.”

"I am excited to receive grant funds from the Department of Justice to hire 50 additional police officers," said Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland. "This grant shows the cooperative relationship we have with our federal law enforcement partners. This will be a great benefit to the citizens of Houston and the men and women of the Houston Police Department."

HPD is one of 379 police and sheriff’s departments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico awarded funding. Houston is the only major Texas city to receive funding this time and one of only five cities receiving funding for 50 officers, the maximum allowed.